River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-01-06
THE BASILISK-
y STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER NJ.
A BLOW.

HtotA4 E'tt't ttth 't'ANAts -itsA -A'ftAA FttDti-
er and stronger; and / found myself rs
POwerlcss a. ever to protect where
now 80 deeply loved. At le. St. l had
paid some tribute to the claims ol duty
III expressing 4 desire 10 leave Hanovev
Lodge. Ms proposal had been reb.s-
al III Tho B5-ilf~ls; and had at least
the satisfaction Of staying now distinct
!. at the request Of another. How NV
presence could benefit her. whom
knew 20 surely 10 need my help could
not see. But 1T amy rate. it was bet
Ter to be near her than far away.
For the next two days life gIidcd on
in the quietest and most uneyeutful
manner. Miss Beaufoy was rs calm As
ever She had been. No sign Of deeper
feelings disturbed her serene and dig
-itied fricudIiug-s.
On the third day. Mr.. Beaufoy re.
marked that he was going TO town on
some business
Perhaps. Mr.. Coplestone," he said
with much SgIavity. You would Ike to
accompany us? You have not been
outside tin place yet since You came.
l should particularly like youto come 3"
was. in truth. delighted with the
suggestion, and readily accepted the
invitation.
I'VE are going 10 drive. and viii
start Immediately after luncheon" he
said.
L. spite Of All my anSicti,E, | felt a
keen sense of pleasure 1t thus renew
ing my acquaintance with the outside
world, and / was the better prepared
10 enjoy the change. ing~much a. Miss
BeaUfoy had reported the day before
that Mary was q great deal better al
most recovered. in fact. II seemed not
unlikely that ou our return l might see
her once more IN the drawing room.
awaiting Us. ana that the interest Of life
might once more revive.
Luncheon was scarcely over when
the sound of wheels was heard on the
drive. ] saw "a very quiet looking car
riase. drawn by one very quiet looking
horse. driven BY Hardy. There was
something very uupretentiOus about
the equipagr. and vet there was Ger
tain distinction. Quictncss and quality
were combined, and the one horse was
quite episcopal in his dignity and de-
cOrum-
l hoped for some reasons that Pl0w-
Wit vt-,rf1I .Funlrfrrr4rrrr- srI f1--s-rr
had evidence Of his dislike To solitude
l rather expected that he would. But
he saw Us into the carriage with his
accustomed p0litrueSs, and went back,
full Of bows and smiles. into the solitary
house.
The drive was most delightful to me.
The afternoon was very fue-a soft
unnyautumn afternoon. Myem0tions
Of delight were too deep for words. Ny
companions, after few remarks. re-
Iapsed into : euce. and left me free to
enjoy my mcditatiouS. and 10 make the
best use l could of my eyes without
betraying too vivid IN interest in the
autumn scenery and the signs of life
around us. We called ~ the offices of
several charitable and educational
societies. and observed that Mr.. Beau
fov was treated with great respect 10y the
officials. one or other of whom accom-
panied him back to his carriage. and
showed that sort of pOliteucSs which Is
bestowed upon a man with whom it Is
well to be. and to besecn to be. ON good
terms. Hardy, solemnly seated on the
box behind the episcopal horse. struck
nv sense Of hUmor with considerable
fore. but Mr.. BeIUfOv, unctUouSly &C.
Cepting the tuadyinE Of the officers of
charitable societies, disguised me, and
the idea Of day Of discoveries and
revelations took q rather dramatic form
in my thoughts. MS BggUf1v had re-
manned ia tine carriage while her father
had gone into several offices and dcpots
for few minutes M a time On his re-
turn from one Of these. Miss BeaufOy
expressed desire % % somewhere for
cup Of tea
Certainly. my dear. said her father
IN 4 round fun tone which was very diff
fcrcut from his ordinary curt and crisp
uttcrauces. lie was evidently some
thing Of nm actor. and artisticJlly lived
M To the part he was PLAYING. Ger
tainlv. my dear. We VIII 90 to the
PSychouhauta>tical Society," and he
directed Hardy 20 drive there.
Here we alightcd. and Mr.. BeaufOy
very kindly guided me up the steps
and along the spacious corridor Of thi
wealthy and useful society's depot
which combines shops, show-rOOms
offices. committet-rOOm~. and what W
now sought spacious tea-room
where members could combine bushes
with light rcfrs-amynts-
As we sat Ia the decoroUs gloom O
this room. inpre-natrj with the spiri
OF sauctimouy aud butcl. Mr.. Beaufo
began TO talk very Kindly IF my condi
ton. lie enlarged on :hc magnitude q
the work done hy Jhc Society. an
on the number of persons Of all kinds d
its employment.
Il don't think YOU would find an
,'TtliCultv in getting post here-Wlt
M alueuce, hc said.
..IfJr Coplc~toUc wanted one. sal
NJ Rs.,uf.. = calmly
If Mr. a.. "ieStoue wanted one
repeated herf1the. ImpreS~iFcly- I'm
that. he went on. :. 'ead> mp 10 2 su'
icct OH which / wish t. sPeah- q
gagged vou under certain 81 vi >omeW n
peculiar conditions. My choiee r
here the CLEAN Of smile loI
moment Illuminated Miss bea'
foy,s pale face-..nly choice L
been more than justified byyour cond' q
and your talents o..
bowed. Hiss Beaufoy smiled Wiz
out reserve. and said:
Mr.. Cople-touc has been so -usel'
that we should lind il difficult to spai
him
VERY difficult. said her fathe
"But. under the circumstances, l 9
not feel justified in retaining Mr.. COpl
stones services
ABRUPT as the announcement was.
was m Ide with such an air Of consider:
ton. and even compliment. that
sounded quite Gathering; still. felt
due to myself to inform him that ha
already felt thatmy position was TAI
one.
i have thought already that l "
not justified IN remaining where ha'
no work to do" l said. Il was spea